Method of forming concrete foundations and the like.



. M. E. LAYNB- A METEQD o? Fomm CONCRETE EOUNDMIONS AND THB LIKE. AlLIUATIONIILEQ MAY 22, 1912. 53%,? St, Patnte May 2'?, wl".

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I'VITNESSES QM m Ew @E Eis Lw NL E1 LAYNE. METHOD 0F FORMUJG GQNGRETB FOUNDATIONS AND THB Lim). l APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1912.

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MAHLON E. LYNE, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

METHOD QF FORMING CGQCEETE FGUNDATIQNS AKD TEE LIKE.

Locatie. y

Specification of Letters raient.

Patented May 27. 1913.

Application filed May $22, 1912. Serial Ho. 668,93?.

T0 all whom. it may concern Be it. known that l, MAHnoN E. 4lnirnnu citizen oii the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Method of Fermin Concrete Foundationsl and the Like, o which the following is u `specificetion.

The invention relates to the srt of makin concrete piers, foundations and the like un to the art of ositioning a. metal tube or similar membegwith u surrounding envelop of gravel or the like for. use'in the foundation or :my other desired purpose. Certain forms of the 'invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional diagrammatic view showingthe rst step in the method, which consists in p'ositioningcthe metal shell; Fig. 2 is a similar section illustrating e later step in the method; v Fig. 3 isl a diagrammatic sectional view showing the complete pier or foundation structure without thev concrete material; Fig. i is e sectional view' illustrating e modified crrengementfor practising the method; Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the tube shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is un enlarged sectional view teken through the bottom of the tube and showing detailso' construction not illustrated in the digiT gramm-ntic views; Figs. Z. and 8 ere, enlarged longitudinal and sectional views through the upper portion of the tube; Fig. 9 is a section showing u slightly modified construction at the lower end of the tube, and Fig. 10 is a. section through the lower part of u tube of modified construction.

In the constructionras shown in Fig. 1 which shows the iirst step of the operation; 1 is u metal shell or tube 'provided in its sides With u large number of perforations end'huving an enlargedor expanded bottom portion 2; 2 is en envelop surrounding the tube und comprising u mass oi gravel',

l crushed'stone or similar material; and 31 is the dir-t wall surrounding the envelo The tube 1 may be sunk to the position shown iny any desired way, such for instance as by using en' excavator. auger or sand racket upon the interiorfuf the tube,l und gradually forcing the tube downward irs'the excavating progresses. The opening;- thus formed in the dirt is of a diameter eii'usl to or greater thun the diameter of the lower enlarged portion l2', the purposebeing to provide a space between the dir t well 3 and the wall of the tube 1 for the grvel en vel 2. This gravel lconstituting sli'- envelop 1s preferably supplied as the tube 1 is forced downward, the weight of the gravel upon the enlarged ortiore 2 materially assisting a true vertical direction when held back and' not allowed to descend too rapidly. The

'perforations It in the wall of the tubel are shown as round butmziy be of any desired character. The perforating of thev tube is preferably done priori'to sinking of it to position, but if .desired perforations of o.`

.different character might bernade from the inside of the tube-'f-xiftehr it was positioned in the ground'.`

After the tube hesribeen positioned as indicated in'Fig. 1 its interior is filled with a.'

mass of gra-vel, crushed rock or the like,

which material surrounds a second tube 7 whose lower end terminates adjacent the bottom of the tube 1.

A removable header 8 is secured removably in tlv@ upper end of'4 the tube' 1, :ind is providrd 1with thev stuifing boit 9 in which the. tube i is mounted for vertical movement. The atout step in the operation is the forcing through the tube 7 of a liquid hydraulic cement, which not only permeates the gravel inside of the tube, but is also forced through the perforations 4 and into' lthe mass of gravel -3 surrounding the tube. As the cement is supplied, the tube 7 .is gradually diuwn upward until the entire mass of materiolinside and outside of the' ,tube is permeated with u sufficient quantity.

of cement to form a ybinder und, which when it burdens, constitutes with the massesl of revel 2 and 6 a concrete solid mass'twith the Itube 1 ns a reinforcing means therefor.

B'illi. trates the'menner in which cd-v l dltioncl reinforcing/means may beu supplied it desired. As illustrated, the outside reinforcing-rods 10 are secured et their lower ends to thetube 1 by riveting or any other desired means, while the inside rods 11 are provided et their lower endwith anchors 12. f

Various 7other ineans mightv obviously be A to form a plug for the gravel envel 'employed for securing additional reinforcement. ,f l l In Fig. 4 the'method is shown as applied to theformation' of a shaft for mine or other work. rIn this larrangement a closed tube 13 is fitted inside of the tube 1, and the spacel intermediate this tube 13 and the tube 1 is filled first with the gravel and subsequently supplied with cement through the tube 15, such cementbeing forced into the gravel,

yand then througlrthe perforations in the After the filling operation the heads 16 and `17 are removed from the tube .13, thus leaving an open passage-way or shht't.

In sinking the tube or shell as shown in Figs. l and 2, it has been found difficult to prevent the lower end of the tube from de'- flecting laterally in its progress downward, due to the fact that strata through which the end of the tube'passes differ greatly in coniposition and offer at various points inore resistance onl one side of the tube than on the other. In order to obviate this ditl'iculty 1 'have provided two means, both of which are illustrated in Fig. 6. The'first of these means consists in providing in the tube' a guide member or sleeve 18 to which is cured a'plurality of rods 19 which are adapted to .project in front of'tlie lower edge of the tube. The sleeve 1S is pushed or driven downward from above by rmeans of a tool of any suitable character which is adapted to take against the upper portion 18, and during the sinking of the tube the rods 19 are always kept in advance of the lower edge of the tube, thus serving a means to penetrate the strata in advance of the edge of the tube and hold such tube against lateral .deflection. The interior of the casing 18 is threaded at 2() to receive `a threaded tool whereby the casing may be raised or lowered the case may be. Another means which also contributes in securing an'undeflected downward movement of the end of the tube `is the provision of a plurality of doorways adjacent the lower e'nd of the tu ie, which doorways are covered by .the sliding doors 21 and 22. lVhen these doors" are open, the

material at the sides of the tube passes in-. wardlv therethrough as the tube descends,`

and the tendency of the end of the tube t-o wabble is materially reduced. Y This arrangement is also advantageous iii that it tends to prevent `the choking up of the tube, as the upward pressure at`tlie bottom ofthe tube is relieved lryreasoii of the escape into ythe tube at the sides of the 'water from material through which the tube is passing. The

doors mayY be`opeiated. by rods/from above (not shown)` or in` any other desired way.

.i lhe lowerend of the tube may also be guided by the reinforcing rods 1() (Fig. 3). liy pulling on oneof these rods` the end of the. tube is directed laterally in the direction of the pull. 4 y

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the means preferably employed fer stitl'ening the perforated tube and connecting t-he various sections thereof together. The various sections are preferably connected by butt straps 23, so that the interior of the tubing is unobstructed, and these connections are further reinforced by the stifl'eiiing ribs 24 and 25 secured to the exterior of the tube. stitleiiing ribs are preferably .commercial angles, although other sections might. be used, and extend substantially the full length of the tubing, so t-hat they bridge the joints and'reinforce the tube at such points. These i'ibs are also very usefulii'i keeping the gravel.

envelop in its proper position, as they preventI the body of gravel from shifting circuniferentially and thus accumulating more at one portion of the tube 'than at another.

The rib 25 at the vertical joint has a flange lofsuflicient length to constitute a connect` ing strap between the two edges of the tube, as indicated i'n Figs. 7 and 8. As'tlie tubes are often of large diameter it is necessaryr to form them eutof sheetl metal bent to the def si'i'ed form.

Still another modification is illustrated in Fig. 9,`which figure indicatesy a somewhat different propoil'tioning of the lower end of the tube, and also shows the tubei without the guide sleeve an'd the rods` as illustrated in I `ig. (S. In this construction the-tube has a cone, or expanded portion 2 from the bottoni of which there is an extension 2 the sides afwhieh are substantially vparallel to ine walls of the tube, but a greater distance apart, as will be readily seen. A`Both the cone 2 and extension 2 may 'be pro vided. with sets of door-ways covered by the `doors 26 and 27, such doors being operable by means of the upwardly extending rods 28.'

The invention is illustrated throughout as applied to the formation of piers or foundation members which are circular in horizontal cross section, but it will be obvious that the process is applicable to the formation of'piers or foundations of any othcr'desired cross section, which cross section will'depend upon 'the cross section of the metal shell employed and may be square or oblong or of any desired shape. Gravel or crushed stoneis preferably used inside and outside These ,maarre tlae'tube or shell, but it will beunderstood 5 terni concrete as employed is used in its eeneric sense and con'iprehends all materials ormed of cement, crushed stone,4 gravel or Athe like, which may be applied in the inanner set forth. heretofore, and which subse quently sets or hardcns into a solid mass.

The method of positioning the tube l with its surrouiidipg envelop of gravel or 'the like constitutes in itse'lf a feat-ure of invention applicable to other uses than the one heretofore described,and is intended to be cov ered when so applied. For instance, the tubev l,wlien positioned as dieretofore described and' provided with its envelop' of gravel 2, constitutes a well screen'having zo very decided merits, vthe gravel 2 in sugli .case constituting the screening medium and .-or filtering devices.

,the relatively large openings 4i permitting the Water to pass freely but preventing the gravel from working into tlie tube.

The construction and method heretofore described involving the use of the flared tube with the gravel envelop'has certain iniportant advantages applied to rscreening In sinking a tube of `50' this character the sand, and line materialy through which the tube penetrates is'apermit.- ted to enter the tube through the sides thereof as it descends, and because of this factthe Water level'A in' the tube retains substantiallv its normal head during the sinkiiiT J b D operation, thus eliminating the rapid inflowy of water at the bottoni such as occurs from time to time where an unperforated tube is employed.

at the bottom of the tube'is detrimental, in-

asmuch as it carries with it a large body of sand and otherianateriah tending to choke up the tube andvprevent its free movement '50 cause of 6its .great weight -to assist in forcinglr the tube downward. A tube of this kind with a relatively loose wall much less liablel to stick than a tube of uniform diameter which fits the solid Walls of thema'- p5 'teniah and is liable to stick or bind because of qnicksand settling around the tube, or by reason of small rocks dropping in between: the tube and the openipg. A 'gravel wall of.

l' Y anyrdesired thickness may be employed, and this giavel wall not only assists in screening the Water which passes therethrough, but also serves as a retainer for the sand which lotlgestherein .as a filter for purifying the -arat.erf passing therethrough. The "eeningcapaely of ya ,device of this kind Such a sudden inflow of water is obviouslyvery much greater than itis possible to secure in any kind of a perforated tube used -without the gravel'envelop.

vIt will be apparent from the foregoing that the forniation of piers and foundations by means of the use of my method may be rapidly and cheaply accomplishedfand that the resultingformation is of a superior character. The material inside and outside the tube is formed into one concretefmass, the perforations in the tube permitting of theD connection of the material inside and outside the tube and giving the lube l when considered as a reinforcing means, a very secure grip upon the concrete. The tube l may besunk to any desired depth or through any formations which may ne encountered, such as quicksand or water. and without ditliculty, and b v applyingsutlicieiit pressure to the cement supplied to the interior of the tube, this cement may be made to tpermeate to a-greater or less degree even the eayth surroundingl the oiitcrcnvelop of gravel, thus `giving the pier or'foundation a very firm grip upon the formations in which it may be located. The iinlargcment Q at the lower end of the tubemay be made in a variety bf ways, the only requirement being that the` lower rnd of the tube be of larger diameter than those portions of the tube lying there above, and the liiiiitation as to the diameter of the lower end of the tube, refers obviously only hto the exterior diameter, the interior diameter being an immaterial factor.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the followingzi 1. The method of forming piers, foundatio-ns,`and the like which consists in sinking into the ground a metal shell having side walls with suchwalls spaced away from the ground, supplying t-he space l,between the walls and ground with a iiiatcrialI capable of receiving cement to form concretefspplying the interior of the shell with a-niaterial also capble of receiving cement to `form concrete, andthen forcing into the said shell and through p erforatioiis provided in the side walls of the shelland the said niaterialsurrounding the shell a cement which subsequently hardens forming with the said material a concrete mass inside and outside the said shell.,

2. Tlibe'method of for-ming piers, foundations, and the like which consists in sinking, into' the ground a metal lshell having side Walls and having an enlarged basewhereby "a space is provided between the Walls of the shell and the dirt side Walls of the excava# tion, supplying the said space with a ina,y

tirial capable of receiving cement to, form concrete, supplying the 4interior of the shell with a .material also capable of receiving cement. to forinlcoiicrete, and then forcing into-the said Shell and through perforations l between the tube and the ground with the provided in the side walls of the shelland :the said material surrounding the .shell a cement which 'subsequently hardens forming,r with the said material a concrete mass inside and outside' the said shell.

3. The method oit' :forming piers, foundations, and the like which consists in sinking into the grouml a metal shell having side wallsiand an enlarged lower end Wherehy a spfce ie provided around the shell abovel the Said lower end as the shell is sunk, providing the said .space as the shell moves down with a material capableof receiving cement to forni consi-ete, and then forcing cement through perforationsprovided in the side walls of the shell and into theeaid material.

' 4 The method of positioning a tube in the ground and providing a surrounding .envelop of gravel or the like, which Consists in sinking` a tube having its lower portion larger than the portions thereabove whereby a space is provided around the tube above the said lower portion between the exterior surface of the tubevand the ground as the tube is sunk, and supplying the said space said gravel or the like as the tube moves down, the body of gravel or the like bearing at its outer surface against the ground and at its inner surface against the tube.

5. The method of positioning a perforated tube in the ground, and providinga Surroundixng,r envelop of gravelor the like, which consistsl in sinking a tube having its lower end larger than the portions 'thereabove, whereby a. space is 4provided around the tube above the lower4 end-as the tube Ais sunk, guiding the said lower end of the tube duringits downward movement, and supplying the Said Space with the said gravel or the like as the tube moves down, the body of gravel o r the like bearing at its outer surfaee against the ground and at its inner surface against the tube.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses.

llIAHLON E. LAYNE.

Witnessee i F. W. CARRUTH, Guo. B. Ruim. 

